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France player ratings vs Scotland | 2023 Guinness Six Nations

France's scrum-half Antoine Dupont reacts after the Six Nations rugby union tournament match between France and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris, on February 26, 2023. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

France player ratings: Although France, last year’s Grand Slam winners, suffered a setback in their previous match against Ireland, they were eager to recover their form.

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With an enforced change at tighthead prop, as Mohamed Haouas replaced suspended Uini Atonio, the French team was looking to overcome Scotland’s challenge.

The game looked to be done and dusted at 19-0 but Scotland fought back into it. A frantic game but France had enough in the tank to see it out.

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15. Thomas Ramos – 7.5
Struck like a thief in the night to break Scottish hearts in the 19th minute after being gifted a 5-pointer by a speculative Finn Russell pass. Was caught loafing covering back by Stuart Hogg, which gifted Scotland an attacking scrum on the 5-metre line. Kicked well throughout.

14. Damian Penaud – 6
Drifted in and out of the game without quite cutting loose and had plenty to do in defence. Was looking to make things happen even if none of them quite paid off.

13. Gael Fickou – 8
Defended gamely against an in-form Scotland three-quarters line and had his hands full trying to contain Huw Jones, a feat that got away from him at times, but the Frenchman ultimately had the last laugh.

12. Yoel Moefana – 6
Another largely steady-neddy 80 minutes from Moefana. Failed to get a pass away when France had a possible break in the offing in what was a breathless first half and was unable to stop Finn Russell on the angle. Yet to bring his Bordeaux form to the Test arena.

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11. Ethan Dumortier – 7.5
Made the most of some quick hands and thinking for France’s second. He must think this Test rugby stuff is dreadfully easy.

10. Romain Ntamack – 6.5
Scored France’s first but in truth it could have been one of about three players queing outside him. With opposite number Finn Russell see-sawing between dangerously loose and utterly brilliantly moments in attack, Ntamack cut a more considered figure for the reigning champs.

9. Antoine Dupont – 7.5
A quiet first half by his own lofty standards and despite his best efforts wasn’t able to hold up Huw Jones early in the second. His tap tackle on Russell after he’d his kick chase, which led to a turnover for France, was a peak Dupont. A handful of visionary moments later in the game may have been the difference between the sides.

1. Cyril Baille – 7
Continues to mix mobility as a carrying option with an impeccable set-piece game.

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2. Julian Marchand – 7
A fired-up Marchand carried hard in front of his home crowd and was part of a dominant French scrum.

3. Mohamed Haouas – 3
A brainless head-on-head contact with Ben White saw the hot-tempered Haouas sent off for an early shower. The end of his Guinness Six Nations and another black mark in an already jaded disciplinary record.

4. Thibaud Flament – 7
Continues to cement his role in Galthie’s team as a mobile and athletic option at lock who isn’t scared of a strong carry.

5. Paul Willemse – 6.5
A solid 50-minutes from the giant second row, who’s still in search of his best form after returning from injury.

6. Anthony Jelonch – NA
Statement made with an early doors hit on Duhan van der Merwe, although he was on receiving end of huge and illegal shot from Grant Gilchrist, that saw him sent off, despite his protestations, by his own medic for a HIA. He didn’t return.

7. Charles Ollivon – 7.5
Thought he had scored just before halftime before it was ruled out. Imperious at the lineout. A return to form after a sub-par performance against Ireland in Dublin.

8. Gregory Alldritt – NA
Clearly wasn’t happy when he came off to make way for Haouas’ replacement Falatea.

Replacements – 7
A decent shift on what was a busy outings for the replacements bench. Tighthead Sipili Falatea was excellent after coming on early, while Romain Taofifenua got through a mountain of work. Francois Cros wasn’t quite at the races, while Matthieu Jailbert looked lively again.

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G
GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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